Longest runner bean/heaviest marrow suggestions please

[Mouse2]

Now we are into the New Year, I'm thinking ahead to the village produce show in September, and wondering what variety of runner bean to grow for the 'longest runner bean' class. Just from its name, Enorma Elite sounds good, but its description of 'extra long podded type' is not specific enough. Have any of you grown this and got an idea how long they can grow?

Last year I grew its (presumably) close relative Enorma, but got nothing beyond about 14", although that might be because I didn't grow them well enough. I really don't know if the 'elite' strain has the potential to grow longer than that or not.

Any suggestions on a marrow variety for the heaviest marrow would be great too (preferably one that won't break the bank!)- it certainly won't be the one that KG readers trialled last year

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Bert, Liberty are a very good long podded variety.....I think Enorma Elite are just just a selected form of Enorma, which is still a very good bean!

Not sure about the giant marrow seed.....but i can't grumble about the KG seed, as it got me £100 worth of vouchers...

[Mouse2]

Thanks OH. I hadn't come across Liberty, but have just Googled them and they sound like they are worth a try.

I forget - how big was your marrow in the end

[oldherbaceous]

Well let's put it like this, i have grown a lot bigger ones out of other varieties of marrow, but they wouldn't have won any competitions....

[Monika]

Can't reply re the largest marrow, but I have won the longest runner bean class before in our village show. I didn't grow a specially long variety (it was probably Polestar or Moonlight), but I did take most of the beans off ONE plant, fed it like mad and that produced two or three very long beans of which I chose the longest to show.